The Portland daily press., 1887-02-10

,,, WASHINGTON, Feb. o.
The speaker laid before the House the
Senate bill to encourage the manufacture Of
steel Tor modern naval ordnance and other
naval purposes, and to provide heavy ord
nance adapted to modern warfare.
Mr.. Reed Of Maine asked unanimous con-
sent Tor the Immediate consideration Of the
bill.
Mr.. Holman Of Indiana objected.
| MIR. Reed then asked that 1t be made a
| special order for Monday next, but encoun-
tered objection from Mr.. Eden Of Illinois.
/ Mr. Reed inquired to what committee the
bill would be referred to under the rules
The speaker replied that the bill would 60
under the rules the committee on apprO-
| priations.
Mr.. Reed inquired If the bill was one
| which the committee appropriations
would have right to report upon at any time
for immediate consideration. He wanted,
he said, to fix the responsibility Of refusal TO
fortify the country on the gentlemen upon
whom it ought to rest, and he wanted to
fix the responsibility upon the Democratic
party.
The bill was then referred to the commit
| tee on appropriations, who the speaker
said, could, under the rules. report any
| time.
The speaker laid before the House the
Senate bill providing for the manufacture Of
ordnance and making appropriations for
coast defences. The speaker said this would
also go to the committee on appropriations,
who, in his opinion, could report at any
time.
Mr.. Reed asked the chair to allow him to
explain his persistency in this matter. This
was question for the chair to decide be-
cause that decision might govern the action
of the House. If the House desired this bill
to be sent to a committee which could report
any time, that was very important fact for
the House to be in possession Of, and the
only person to whom the House could apply
for a statement of fact was its organ, the
Ia hA1 Isa
speakers opinion on the subject. II the
speaker should make mistake on this
question of course the speaker would afford
the House tie opportunity TO rectify its de-
cision on the question of reference
The Speaker-If the chair is correct
deciding that this bill properly goes under
the rule to the appropriation committee, then
it would follow that the committee may re-
port at any time.
Mr.. Reed-And the House. sending the
bill to the committee ON appropriations,
gives it that power?
The Speake--The House does not send it
there; the speaker sends it there under the
rules. The bill was referred to the commit
tee on appropriations.
The House then resumed the consideration
of the bill changing the mode of cOmpensa-
ton to United States district attorneys,
marshals and commissioners.
Mr.. Rogers of Arkansas made sharp on
slaught upon the measure, declaring that it
out flaws in the various provisions, and
illustrating the want Of care shown in the
framing of the bill by asserting that one of
the sections of the revised statutes which 1t
is proposed to amend has reference to an en-
tirely different matter from that with which
the bill deals.
Mr.. Gibson of West Virginia intimated
that the gentleman's opposition arose from
the fact that the compensation of officers in
his district was interfered with.
This ipnnufofiap Mr in otfl
denied, and retorted with vague insinua-
alton that In respect to this bill "the Niger
in the woOdpile" was certain officer in
certain district of Virginia. Mr.. Rogers
continued to take the provisions of the bill
seriatim and TO criticize and ridicule them
in manner which brought forth numerous
Interruptions from Mr.. Gibson, and at times
the controversy between the two gentlemen
was tinged with personalities.
Pending action on the bill the morning
haur expired.
Mr.. 0'Neil of Missouri made an attempt to
call up the letter carriers eight-hour bill, but
was unsuccessful, and the House went into
committee of the whole on the diplomatic
and consular bill. After some debate the
committee rose.
Public business was then suspended and
the House proceeded to the consideration of
the resolutions relative to the death of w. /.
Price, late Representative from Wisconsin,
and declaring that in his death the country
has lost patriotic citizen and most faith
ful public servant. EulOgistic addresses
were made by Messrs. Caswell and Thomas
son of Iowa, and Breckenridge of Kentucky
and then at 4.J0 O'Clock the House, as
mark OF respect to the memory Of the de-
ceased, adjourned.